Jay-Z, who is in the middle of his Watch the Throne tour> with Kanye West, announced via a press conference (video below) that he will perform at NYC's Carnegie Hall on February 6 and 7 to benefit the United Way of New York City to help expand the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, and that tickets will be sold privately on December 12 with a limited amount of public tickets going on sale January 30 at 11 AM. Private tickets will range from $500 to $2500.

Jay also spoke to MTV about plans for a new album in 2012 (via Fader):

"It depends on how this thing finishes up," Jay said in reference to his and Kanye's current Watch the Throne Tour. "We -- I say 'we' because I'm in Throne mode -- we're in a great place creatively. You might see a Jay, then Kanye and a Throne album next year. You know, we're really in a great place creatively. We really found our zone."

Philanthropy is fine and all, but dont dangle a carrot in front of average people's faces and expect to pump them dry to benefit your charity. Make it an exclusively private event with no public tickets then. There's plenty of great shows that happen that way, but at least it's a more honest way of doing business.

So let me get this straight. Jay-Z is selling extremely expensive tickets to the wealthy, and then - once January 30th come and no more people are buying expensive tickets for a show that's one week away - he will release the remaining tickets to the public? So there is a chance that no tickets will go onsale if the rich men buy all the expensive tickets?

wanna hear some hip hop that matters? i refer you to public enemy, nwa, jungle brothers, a tribe called quest, leaders of the new school and even grandmaster flash and the furious five. they all have more talent in their pinkies (individually) than jay z has in his whole ugly self.

"Wanna hear hip hop that matters? Listen to all these hip-hop artists that haven't been culturally relevant for at least two decades" -2:39

you're like the guy who I tell to listen to St. Vincent, and he responds by saying, "that's shit. Here's Janis Joplin's first LP, it'll change your life, man." Tribe, NWA, grandmaster flash, jungle brothers, and public enemy are all 'ironic rap' at this point; it's like playing 80s music at a party. my parents listen to public enemy and think it's soft.

Sure I do. Look, Jay-Z could PROBABLY fill MSG again so soon. People want to go, would pay the money. By those numbers the show nets $200K less, big deal. Jay could put that in himself, or stick it on the promoters tab, god knows they pay for enough other dumb shit.

Now, taking into account it's two shows, then yes, it makes sense as they'll raise $4M more than an MSG show. So yes, you totally showed me and my half-serious comment!! Blast!

Jay plays MSG and other NYC area venues/events frequently, everyone who has a little money can see him. This is a different thing. Good idea, it will generate millions for a good cause.

And just to be clear, this "nigga" ain't an uncle tom (whatever it is you mean by that...i'm not sure you understand the term) and yes, he retired ten years ago but then came back a couple years later. He is very popular, many people love his music and persona, live and let live please.